Vehicle.



P- FORSOHLERI.

VEHICLE. APPLIOATIONVI'IIQIED APR. 8, 1912.

1 ,05 2,23 1 Patented 'Feb. 4, 1913.

- 2 mums-sum 1.

- WITNESSES I I ATTORNEYS P. PORSGHLER.

I VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1912. I

1,052,231. I I Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

2 SEBETB-BHBET, 2.

WITNESSES To all whomz't may concern:

PHILIP ronscnnna, or NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

v'nHrcLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Be it known that I, PHILIP FoRsoHLnR,

citizen of the-United States,.residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicles, of which the following is-a specification;

Myfpresent invention has to do with vehicles; and it consists in the peculiar and advantageous construction hereinafter described and claimed.-

In the accompanying drawings: Figure is a side elevation of the vehicle constituting the best practical embodiment of myinvention that I have as yetdevised. Fig. 2

is an end elevation of the vehicle. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan showing the positions of 'the parts of the vehicle when the same is moving in astraight line.

Similar letters of reference designate 'corresponding parts in all -of the views of the drawings. a

.The body frame of my novel vehicle com- I prises two longitudinal bars 0, of angular form in cross-section, cross-bars Z extending between and fixedly connected to the longitudinal bars, depending supports Y of which there are preferably two employed, one adjacent each end of the body' frame,

and depending su ports Y of which there. are four employe one of the supports Y being arranged between and spaced from two of the supports Y as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The supports Y and Y are fixedly connected at their ends to the longitudinal bars 0, and the intermediate portions of the said supports are suitably connected in fixed manner to the upper members of fifth wheels C. It will be understood in this connection that my novel vehicle comprises two fifth wheels, one adjacent each end of the vehicle,

' and that three of the supports mentioned are interposed between and connected to the upper member of each fifth wheel and the frame bars 0; and it will also be undenstood that the supports Y are shaped differently from the supports Y, Fig. 2, so as to enable the supports Y to brace the supports Y and vice versa.

The gears disposed under and fixedly connected to the lower members of the fifthwheels are identical in construction, and therefore a detailed description of the gear shown in Fig. 2 and at the left of Figs. 1,

Application filed April 8, 191 2. Serial no. 689168.

and 3 will siifiice to impart a definite understanding ofboth. The gear specifically referred to' comprises an axle G, ground wheels H at the ends of the same, hangers Patented Feb.- 4,1913;

E straddling the axle G at points adjacent the wheels and havingplates N disposed below the 'axlejand also having bolt-receiving apertures in said plates and further hav-.

-ing"eyes .--.P;-;disposed above'the axle, hangers F connected by bolts a, which extend through the said apertures, with the hangers E," leaf-springsl disposed in vertical planes at opposite sides of the axle G and having theirends arrangedbetween and connected to the hangers F, as best shown'in Figs. 1 and 2, hounds A fixed to the lower member of the fifth wheel, bolsters V interposed and secured between the springs I and the lower fifth wheel member, clipsor shackles Risecured on the axlejQand receiving the ends of the plates N to secure the latter against the under side ofthe axle, andbraces S interposed between and connected to the eyes P and the houndsQA, and having for their purpose to prevent shifting of the axle and the imposition of undue I strain on the springs I. The eyes P may be formed integral with the hangers E without involving departure from the scope of my claimed invention, though I prefer to form the said eyes on plates, as best shown'i'n Fig. 1, and to connect the said. plates to the hangers E. It will also be noticed in this connection that the eyes 6 of the plates N receive the bolts a, Figs. 1 and 2, and hence the said bolts an effect connection of the plates N to the hangers; and it will further be noticed by reference to Fig. 1 that there are. four hangers F employed incombihatioii with each hanger E, the said hangers F being arranged at opposite sides of each end of each spring I. In addition to elements mentioned, the gear specifically referred to comprises a drawbar or coupling bar suit ably fixed in conventional or any other approved manner between the hounds A and to the lower member of the fifth wheel.

By virtue of the construction of the gears at the opposite ends of the vehicle and the manner of mounting the-body frame on the said gears, it will be manifest that the body frame and the body that is used thereon will be efficiently cushioned by the springs, and this notwithstanding the body frame is arwithstand the rough usage to whichvehioles ranged close to the ground which is always advantageous in a vehicle irrespective of th( type thereof. o

It will also be manifest from theforegoing that the axles G, the springs I, and the means described associated withthe axles and the springs are so constructed and ar-. ranged. that vnot-withstanding the eflicient" cushioning of the fifth wheel'and the body frame by the two springs'employed in connection with-eachfaxle, the construction is strong and durable and is well adapted to of the dray type are ordinarily subjected.

otally connected to the axles-G, as indicated by L, and it will also be understood that by and between the bars.

Interposed between 'and connected to the axles G are bars J which are crossed, as shown in Fig.3 so as to simulate the letter At theirends the said bars J' are pivwhile the bars J are crossed, they are not connected to each other, but on the other hand there'is a clearance space between the bars asclearly appears in Fig. 1, this in order to permitfree play of each bar independently ofthe other bar and Without the creationoffrict-ion and its attendantwear By virtue of the employment of the vehicle, the other axle and its gear will be swung in a horizontal plane and to a corresponding extent so as to contribute to the making of the turn. -From this it follows that the interposition of'thebarsd between the swinging gears at opp'osite en ds of the vehicle adapts the vehicle to be sharply turned or to-make a short turn-fwithout liabilityof the vehicle being 'u'psetlf As before stated, the vehicle may be drawn eitherby dr'aft animals of by a motor vehicle, and the draft means? can be attached to the tongue :13 at either end'of the vehicle This will beappreciated as'an important advantagewhen it is stated that when the it distinctly understood that the ends of the crossed bars J may be connected with-pivoted axles of any suitable construction 'and ent, is

. the bars J it will'be readily understood that when one ofthe axles is swung with itsgear in a horizontal plane to bring about .a turning of Without involving departure from the-scope of my invention as claimed.

" It will be readily understood by comparison of-the figures of the drawings that stay braces D are connected to theunder sides of the hounds A-and are carried below the intermediateportions of the leaf springsD, and jare- 1 connected I with the springs by Jceive'and are fixed .to the wood portions and have .fiattened portions, disposed on and pivotedto-theaxles, as indicated at L.

1- Having described my invention,, what I secure by Letters-Patclaim and; desire to In a vehicle, the combination of a frame,

upper fifth wheel members "disposed below and spaced from the end portions of the frame, supports extending transversely of the vehicle and spaced apart; the said supports being in two groups and each group comprising supports fixed to and extending out-ward and upward from the upper fifth wheel member to theframe and other supports fixed to the upper fifth wheel member at points outward beyond the lower portions of the last mentioned supports and extendingupward tothe frame at acute angles to said supports, whereby the supports in each group areadapted to brace each other, lower fifth wheel members connected with the upper. fifth wheel members, hounds disposed below and fixed to the lower fifth wheel members, axles bearing ground wheels, springs extending transversely of the vehicle and connected at intermediatepoints in their lengths with the hounds, braces interposed between and connected with the hounds and the outer portions of-theaxles andladaptedto prevent shifting of the. axles and the imposition of undue strain on the springs, means connecting the springs with the axles, and cross d bars interposed between the axles and pivotally connected at their ends on the end portions of the axles.

- In testimonywhereof'l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 

